Westminster College students crowded a lecture hall Monday to hear U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt discuss maintaining the balance between liberty and security.
The Missouri Republican's national security speech, part of the Hancock Symposium, explained why that balance poses several challenges while attempting to find that balance and how it involves cyber security. He emphasized the significance of considering how to prioritize the expansion of possibilities for both liberty and freedom.
Blunt commended the symposium for bringing people together to discuss topics the country currently faces.
He mentioned examples of how the U.S. is protecting liberties while understanding the need for security without compromising or sacrificing one of those values. The underlying theme in the senator's speech pertained to new challenges the U.S. faces in defending national security and how they've transformed over time with rapidly developing foreign conflicts and advancements in technology.
"They (the challenges) are more prevalent, complex and potentially more catastrophic than ever before," Blunt said.
He added national intelligence agencies and national security officials have agreed that "this is the most dangerous time that the United States has faced in terms of the multiplicity of threats and lack of our ability to keep track of all of them all in a way that all of us are happy about."
Westminster College President Benjamin Akande introduced Blunt, noting his public service accomplishments and what Akande called an "unwavering commitment" to supporting new legislation addressing security issues.
"I feel a special bond to Senator Blunt because he, too, was a teacher and a college president at his alma mater at Southeast Baptist University in Bolivar," Akande said. "And so I know he feels at home tonight, coming back to a college campus, a place where he helped transformed, but more importantly, he has made a totality of commitment to the state of Missouri."
Following the senator's speech, three Westminster students asked him questions to elaborate on topics he brought up.
Ben Davis attended the lecture and said he enjoyed the diversity of the senator's speech.
"I thought the topics he addressed were really interesting," Davis said. "I especially liked his thoughts on the ongoing nuclear crisis."
The Hancock Symposium is a series of lectures, presentations and panel discussions on various national and global security threats.